Prashant Kishor

Kishor was born in a Hindu Family to Shrikant Pandey, a physician and Sushila Pandey, a homemaker.{{cite news |title=Part of Prashant Kishor's house in Bihar demolished for road widening project |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/part-of-prashant-kishors-house-in-bihar-demolished-for-road-widening-project/article33831036.ece |work=The Hindu |agency=PTI |date=13 February 2021 |access-date=16 August 2024}}{{cite news |title=नहीं रहे प्रशांत किशोर के पिता, दिल्ली में हुआ निधन |url=https://www.bhaskar.com/bihar/patna/news/jdu-leader-prashant-kishor-father-pass-away-01546823.html |work=Dainik Bhaskar |language=hi |date=2019 |access-date=16 August 2024}}{{cite news |title=पिता थे कांग्रेसी, मां पॉलिटिक्स के खिलाफ और बीवी...PK की लाइफ से जुड़ी ये बातें जानते हैं आप? |url=https://www.abplive.com/photo-gallery/news/india-prashant-kishor-family-do-you-know-these-things-about-jansuraaj-pk-life-2653979 |work=ABP Live |language=hi |date=1 April 2024 |access-date=16 August 2024}} He hails from the Konar village, Sasaram of Rohtas district, Bihar, India. He later moved to Buxar, Bihar where he completed his secondary education.{{Cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/politics/jdu-may-field-prashant-kishor-from-buxar-in-2019-polls-to-set-up-clash-against-rjds-jagdanand-singh-1879029.html|title=JD(U) May Field Prashant guhani from Brahmin Bastion Buxar in 2019|website=News18|date=16 September 2018|access-date=25 September 2019}} Kishor is married to Jahnavi Das, a physician hailing from Guwahati, Assam, with whom he has a son.{{cite news |title=लेडी डॉक्टर पर दिल हार बैठे थे PK, रचाई शादी, जानिए कौन हैं प्रशांत किशोर की पत्नी |url=https://www.jansatta.com/photos/picture-gallery/prashant-kishor-lovestory-wife-marriage-family-know-all-about-love-and-lifestory-of-pm-narendra-modi-nitish-kumar-mamata-banerjee-political-strategist-pk/1745129/ |access-date=24 June 2022 |work=Jansatta |date=15 June 2021 |language=hi}}{{cite news |title=बिहार से राजनीति में कदम रखने वाले प्रशांत किशोर के बारे में यह बातें नहीं जानते होंगे आप |url=https://www.amarujala.com/india-news/prashant-kishore-is-all-set-to-start-his-new-journey-from-bihar-know-some-facts-about-him |access-date=24 June 2022 |work=Amar Ujala |date=16 September 2018 |language=hi}}

Kishor worked in public health{{cite news |last1=K |first1=Sruthijith K. |title=Prashant Kishor: Meet the most trusted strategist in the Narendra Modi organisation |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/prashant-kishor-meet-the-most-trusted-strategist-in-the-narendra-modi-organisation/articleshow/23614928.cms |access-date=20 March 2022 |work=The Economic Times |date=7 October 2013}} programmes funded by the United Nations for eight years till 2011.

Kishor worked reportedly pro bono, and without holding any office in the BJP or Gujarat Government, Kishor worked as a political strategist for BJP's pre-election campaign in 2012 Gujarat Assembly Election and 2014 Loksabha Election.{{Cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/prashant-kishor-meet-the-most-trusted-strategist-in-the-narendra-modi-organisation/articleshow/23614928.cms?intenttarget=no|title=Prashant Kishor: Meet the most trusted strategist in the Narendra Modi organisation|last=K|first=Sruthijith K.|date=7 October 2013|work=The Economic Times|access-date=10 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010111449/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/prashant-kishor-meet-the-most-trusted-strategist-in-the-narendra-modi-organisation/articleshow/23614928.cms?intenttarget=no|archive-date=10 October 2017|url-status=live}} In 2013, Kishor co-founded Citizens for Accountable Governance (CAG), a media and publicity company in preparation for the May 2014 general election of India, with Robbin Sharrma and others.{{Cite news |last=Vishnoi |first=Anubhuti |date=7 March 2019 |title=Ex-Modi and Nitish campaign head joins team Priyanka Gandhi |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/lok-sabha/india/ex-modi-and-nitish-campaign-head-joins-team-priyanka-gandhi/articleshow/68296531.cms |work=The Economic Times |access-date=30 October 2023 |issn=0013-0389}}{{Cite news |last=Vadlapatla |first=Sribala |date=25 February 2020 |title=Former Prashant Kishor aide joins N Chandrababu Naidu's team as key strategist |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/former-pk-aide-joins-naidus-team-as-key-strategist/articleshow/74291273.cms |work=The Times of India |access-date=30 October 2023 |issn=0971-8257}}{{cite news |last1=Venugopal |first1=Vasudha |title=Narendra Modi's Citizens for Accountable Governance (CAG): Will it be disbanded or play bigger role? |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/narendra-modis-citizens-for-accountable-governance-cag-will-it-be-disbanded-or-play-bigger-role/articleshow/35131371.cms |access-date=16 September 2018 |agency=The Economic Times |publisher=Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd |date=15 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916130520/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/narendra-modis-citizens-for-accountable-governance-cag-will-it-be-disbanded-or-play-bigger-role/articleshow/35131371.cms |archive-date=16 September 2018 |url-status=live }} Kishor and his team were credited with formulating an innovative marketing and advertising campaign for Narendra Modi— the Chai Pe Charcha discussions,{{Cite news|url=https://www.ndtv.com/cheat-sheet/narendra-modi-to-launch-chai-pe-charcha-campaign-today-550542|title=Narendra Modi to launch 'chai pe charcha' campaign today|work=NDTV.com|access-date=8 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180908202440/https://www.ndtv.com/cheat-sheet/narendra-modi-to-launch-chai-pe-charcha-campaign-today-550542|archive-date=8 September 2018|url-status=live}} 3D rallies, Run for Unity, Manthan and several social media programmes.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyo.in/politics/prashant-kishor-modi-ghar-wapsi-bjp-lok-sabha-election-2019-congress-rahul-gandhi/story/1/22589.html|title=Prashant Kishor teaming up with Modi for 2019 general elections reeks of desperation|website=www.dailyo.in|access-date=8 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180908202403/https://www.dailyo.in/politics/prashant-kishor-modi-ghar-wapsi-bjp-lok-sabha-election-2019-congress-rahul-gandhi/story/1/22589.html|archive-date=8 September 2018|url-status=live}}

In 2015, He helped Nitish Kumar led Mahagathbandhan win the 2015 Bihar Legislative Assembly election.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-05 |title='He has temerity to offer gyan to me': Prashant Kishor slams Nitish Kumar, says he refused to lead his party |url=https://www.firstpost.com/politics/today-he-has-temerity-to-offer-gyan-to-me-prashant-kishor-slams-nitish-kumar-says-he-refused-to-lead-his-party-11389431.html |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=Firstpost |language=en-us}} Kishor Joined the Janata Dal (United) on 16 September 2018 as the vice-president of the party.{{cite news |title=Prashant Kishor is JD(U) vice-president |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/prashant-kishor-is-jdu-vice-president/article25242411.ece |work=The Hindu |date=17 October 2018 |access-date=21 August 2024}} Kishor and other CAG members regrouped as I-PAC to work with Nitish Kumar, in a bid to win a third term as Chief Minister in the Bihar Legislative Assembly election.{{Cite web |title=Prashant Kishor: Man pivot of PM Narendra Modi campaign in talks to help steer JD(U) in Bihar election |url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2015-05-20/news/62413210_1_pm-narendra-modi-nitish-kumar-prashant-kishor |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151115205855/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2015-05-20/news/62413210_1_pm-narendra-modi-nitish-kumar-prashant-kishor |archive-date=15 November 2015 |access-date=19 February 2016 |website=timesofindia-economictimes }} The claims were that Kishor dramatically influenced the strategy, resources and alliances for the campaign.{{cite web |title=Backroom boy who changed the rules |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1151109/jsp/nation/story_52204.jsp#.VqIH_fl97VQ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117151633/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1151109/jsp/nation/story_52204.jsp#.VqIH_fl97VQ |archive-date=17 November 2015 |access-date=19 November 2015}}{{cite news |last=Thakur |first=Sankarshan |date=23 July 2015 |title=Modi's ace versus Modi's ex-mace |work=The Telegraph |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150723/jsp/frontpage/story_33229.jsp |access-date=10 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119195824/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150723/jsp/frontpage/story_33229.jsp |archive-date=19 November 2015}} Upon winning the Bihar elections, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar named Kishor as his advisor for planning and programme implementation, with a brief look for ways to implement the seven-point agenda that was promised during Kumar's election campaign.{{Cite news |last=Anuja |date=22 January 2016 |title=Prashant Kishor appointed Nitish Kumar's advisor |work=Live Mint |url=https://www.livemint.com/Politics/If4Zf4EeO7eaPc5fjWkPEP/Prashant-Kishor-appointed-Nitish-Kumars-advisor.html |access-date=1 October 2018}}{{Cite news |last=Manish |first=Sai |date=11 March 2017 |title=Behind Congress' Punjab election win: Prashant Kishor's behind-the-scenes magic at display |work=Business Standard India |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/behind-congress-punjab-election-win-prashant-kishor-s-behind-the-scenes-magic-117031100224_1.html |access-date=29 September 2018}} In 2020, Kishor was involved with the 2020 Bihar Legislative Assembly election.{{cite news |last1=Tewary |first1=Amarnath |date=21 February 2020 |title=Bihar Opposition leaders meet Prashant Kishor |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/bihar-opposition-leaders-meet-prashant-kishor/article30883288.ece |access-date=23 February 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Singh |first1=Rohit Kumar |date=23 February 2020 |title=Baat Bihar Ki: Prashant Kishor's ambitious campaign for Bihar to be launched today |language=en |work=India Today |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/baat-bihar-ki-prashant-kishor-campaign-youth-launch-1648185-2020-02-20 |access-date=23 February 2020}}

In 2016 the Indian National Congress employed Kishor for the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly election.{{Cite web |date=2016-12-07 |title=Uttar Pradesh elections: For third time this year, Congress seeks list of likely candidates |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/uttar-pradesh-elections-for-third-time-this-year-congress-seeks-list-of-likely-candidates-4414215/ |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}} However, these elections were a failure for Congress and Kishor as BJP won more than 300 seats and Congress could only manage 7 seats. This was also the first time Kishor failed to help a party win the elections.{{cite web |date=14 March 2017 |title=Prashant Kishor: Master strategist who sank the Congress ship in Uttar Pradesh – Firstpost |url=http://www.firstpost.com/politics/prashant-kishor-master-strategist-who-sank-the-congress-ship-in-uttar-pradesh-3334376.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170430224318/http://www.firstpost.com/politics/prashant-kishor-master-strategist-who-sank-the-congress-ship-in-uttar-pradesh-3334376.html |archive-date=30 April 2017 |access-date=5 May 2017 |website=www.firstpost.com}}

Kishor has successfully worked with several other political parties in India as well including Amarinder Singh for the 2017 Punjab Legislative Assembly election,{{Cite news |title=How Captain Amarinder Singh Won Punjab: Here's the Inside Story |language=en |work=The Quint |url=https://www.thequint.com/politics/2017/03/28/how-congress-campaign-won-punjab-election |url-status=live |access-date=29 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170330003214/https://www.thequint.com/politics/2017/03/28/how-congress-campaign-won-punjab-election |archive-date=30 March 2017}}{{Cite news |title=Amarinder-Prashant Kishor 'Jodi' Ensured Congress' Punjab Comeback |language=en |work=The Quint |url=https://www.thequint.com/punjab-elections-2017/2017/03/12/capt-amarinder-prashant-kishor-jodi-clicked-for-congress-in-punjab-rahul-gandhi-arvind-kejriwal-ipac-modi-nitish |url-status=live |access-date=29 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170330010532/https://www.thequint.com/punjab-elections-2017/2017/03/12/capt-amarinder-prashant-kishor-jodi-clicked-for-congress-in-punjab-rahul-gandhi-arvind-kejriwal-ipac-modi-nitish |archive-date=30 March 2017}}{{Cite news |title=The man who won Punjab: breaking down Captain Amarinder's path to victory |language=en |work=CatchNews.com |url=http://www.catchnews.com/politics-news/the-man-who-won-punjab-breaking-down-captain-amarinder-s-path-to-victory-54968.html |url-status=live |access-date=29 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170330003023/http://www.catchnews.com/politics-news/the-man-who-won-punjab-breaking-down-captain-amarinder-s-path-to-victory-54968.html |archive-date=30 March 2017}} Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy for the 2019 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election,{{Cite web |author=Nitin B. |date=24 March 2019 |title=Inside I-PAC's war room for Jagan Mohan Reddy's Chief Ministerial campaign |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/inside-i-pacs-war-room-jagan-mohan-reddys-chief-ministerial-campaign-98878 |access-date=18 July 2019 |website=The News Minute}} Arvind Kejriwal for the 2020 Delhi Legislative Assembly election,{{cite news |last1=Jeelani |first1=Gulam |date=12 February 2020 |title=How AK-62 fired on all cylinders |language=en |work=India Today |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/elections/delhi-assembly-polls-2020/story/aap-arvind-kejriwal-2020-delhi-election-results-1645569-2020-02-12 |access-date=14 February 2020}} Mamata Banerjee for the 2021 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election,{{cite news |last1=PTI |date=22 February 2020 |title='Adviser' Prashant Kishor has altered political discourse of Mamata's TMC |language=en |work=Business Standard |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/adviser-prashant-kishor-has-altered-political-discourse-of-mamata-s-tmc-119110601735_1.html |access-date=22 February 2020}}{{cite news |last1=ANI |date=10 April 2021 |title=Prashant Kishor's leaked audio chat increases political temperature in Bengal, TMC hits out at BJP |language=en |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/prashant-kishors-leaked-audio-chat-increases-political-temperature-in-bengal-tmc-hits-out-at-bjp/articleshow/82006817.cms |access-date=12 April 2021}} and M. K. Stalin for the 2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election as well.{{cite news |last1=PTI |date=3 February 2020 |title=DMK teams up with Prashant Kishor's I-PAC for 2021 Tamil Nadu polls |language=en |work=India Today |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/dmk-teams-up-with-prashant-kishor-s-i-pac-for-2021-tami-nadu-polls-1642677-2020-02-03 |access-date=7 February 2020}}

After the win of the AITC in the 2021 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election and DMK in the 2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election, Kishor declared that he was quitting as an election strategist.{{cite news |last1=Jain |first1=Sreenivasan |last2=Ghosh |first2=Deepshikha |title=NDTV Exclusive: Bengal Won, Prashant Kishor Says "Quitting This Space" |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/west-bengal-assembly-election-result-2021-prashant-kishor-tells-ndtv-results-may-seem-one-sided-but-it-was-a-tough-fight-on-trinamool-congresss-show-i-2426363 |access-date=24 June 2022 |work=NDTV |date=3 May 2021}} In an interview with NDTV on 2 May 2021, Kishor told anchor Sreenivasan Jain on live TV, "I do not want to continue what I am doing. I have done enough. Time for me to take a break and do something else in life. I want to quit this space."

{{Main|Jan Suraaj}}

A year later on 2 May 2022, Kishor hinted toward the formation of a political outfit of his own with a tweet that said that it was time to go to the "Real Masters, The People" and on the path of "Jan Suraaj-Peoples Good Governance"{{Cite news |last=Hebbar |first=Nistula |date=2 May 2022 |title=Prashant Kishor announces plans for political outfit, says 'beginning from Bihar' |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/prashant-kishor-announces-plans-for-political-outfit-says-beginning-from-bihar/article65374909.ece |access-date=2 May 2022 |work=The Hindu |issn=0971-751X}}—similar to his last recent campaign titled "Baat Bihar Ki". After his retirement from being a political strategist, Kishor has also mulled launching a political party from his home state, Bihar.{{Cite web |date=25 May 2022 |title=Brand Prashant Kishor and its political repercussions |url=https://www.livemint.com/opinion/online-views/brand-prashant-kishor-and-its-political-repercussions-11653498932827.html |access-date=23 June 2022 |website=mint |language=en}} Kishor later on announced a 3,000 km Padyatra which would take place across Bihar, and would involve Kishor meeting with people from all across the state.{{cite news |last1=Tripathi |first1=Piyush |title=Prashant Kishor announces 3,000-km Padyatra from Bapu's 'Karmbhumi' |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/prashant-kishor-announces-3000-km-padyatra-from-bapus-karmbhumi/articleshow/91352719.cms |access-date=24 June 2022 |work=The Times of India |date=5 May 2022 |language=en}} The "Padyatra" is taking place under his "Jan Suraaj Padyatra" campaign. One of the stated goals of the campaign is to form a political party, which he estimates would fight its first election in the 2025 Bihar Legislative Assembly.{{Cite news |last=Shandilya |first=Shivam |date=4 December 2023 |title=Bihar Assembly Polls: Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj To Contest On All 243 Seats In 2025 |url=https://english.jagran.com/india/bihar-assembly-polls-prashant-kishor-jan-suraaj-to-contest-on-all-243-seats-in2025-10118134 |work=Dainik Jagran |access-date=28 February 2024}} On 2 October 2024, Kishor announced the Jan Suraaj campaign as a formal political party, which will be known as the Jan Suraaj Party.{{Cite news |last=Tewary |first=Amarnath |date=5 September 2024 |title=Prashant Kishor's upcoming Jan Suraaj party may contest bypolls in Bihar |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bihar/prashant-kishors-upcoming-jan-suraaj-party-may-contest-bypolls-in-bihar/article68609576.ece |work=The Hindu |issn=0971-751X |access-date=3 October 2024}}

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Category:1970s births

Category:Indian campaign managers

Category:2014 Indian general election

Category:People from Bihar

Category:Living people

Category:UNICEF people

Category:Indian officials of the United Nations

Category:Janata Dal (United) politicians

Category:Jan Suraaj Party politicians